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S
Spazeroo
Participating Frequently
September 10, 2018
Answered

QR Codes scanning blank

  • September 10, 2018
  • 11 replies
  • 6190 views

Hi InDesign guru's and community

I hope someone can help me asap with QR codes that are not working.

I have 9 business cards, each with a unique QR code (business card type) generated in Adobe InDesign about a year ago.

These codes have always worked, until recently when, upon client request, I had to update the physical address of the office in the code, and added two codes to two new cards.

Now, only the first code scans properly. All the others are blank when you try scan them, for some reason.

Please can someone assist with this issue that my client picked up, and is now a little embarrassing.

Best,

Sarah

Below works:

Below not working, generated same as above:

Below not working, generated same as above:

Below not working, generated same as above:

And another 6 cards following those that also have blank QR Codes for some reason.

PLEASE HELP

    Correct answer Test Screen Name

    The total number of characters encoded is what matters. The software isn't likely to be at fault. If the dots in the pattern are too small, SOME scanners can't read them and SOME printers can't print them. That looks a very, very, crowded barcode.

    Bear in mind that if your scanner is marginal some will be worse. Many will fail completely, but nobody will complain. Business may be silently lost. This, as I said, is why many people just use URL shorteners.

    11 replies

    W
    wide-communication
    Participant
    June 11, 2024

    It is an ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS issue.
    If Data is being copied and pasted, the QR Code will not work. If manually typed in, it works. HOW is this still an issue in 2024? We're living in a time when GenAi exists, and it's impossible to copy and paste data into InDesign?!


      James Gifford—NitroPress
      James Gifford—NitroPress
      Legend
      June 11, 2024

      This is also mostly a six year old issue. 🙂

       

      The problems with cut and paste tend to trace to invalid characters captured in the cut/scrape.

        alg39772216
        alg39772216
        Participant
        September 19, 2022

        Faced the exact same issue.  This was invaluable.  I had aslo copied and pasted the address.  I tried everything until I stumbled upon this forum.  Once I physically typed in the address...BOOM.. it worked perfectly.

          ML Rahman
          ML Rahman
          Participant
          November 1, 2020

          With due respect, I want to let you know that this kind of problem showed up when it is copying and pasting data into InDesign QR Code generator. In this case native iPhone camera will show "No usable data found" and even free third party apps with the same iPhone will read the QR Code perfactly.

           

          My concern,

          - InDesign generated QR Code can be read with some apps, it can not be read with some apps | Phone.

          - InDesign generated QR Code can not be read with native iPhone camera, it can be read with the same iPhone using other apps.

           

          The problem is "Why do I copy and past daaata even the daaata visually correct".

          Some times Tech users must face such a time wasting situation and theories never save you.

            T
            Test Screen NameCorrect answer
            Legend
            September 12, 2018

            The total number of characters encoded is what matters. The software isn't likely to be at fault. If the dots in the pattern are too small, SOME scanners can't read them and SOME printers can't print them. That looks a very, very, crowded barcode.

            Bear in mind that if your scanner is marginal some will be worse. Many will fail completely, but nobody will complain. Business may be silently lost. This, as I said, is why many people just use URL shorteners.

            S
            SpazerooAuthor
            Participating Frequently
            September 12, 2018

            Thank you so much for your assistance. The problem was, as you mentioned earlier, in the physical address. Information like 'postal code' and 'city' was being repeated. I cleaned that up, made a new QR code with all information manually typed in (no copy paste from elsewhere to avoid any hidden characters) and that seemed to work! I have re-done every single QR code now and they all work!

            Thank you to all who have assisted! I am hugely grateful.

            All the best!

              S
              SpazerooAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              September 12, 2018

              Guys, this is still not solved, and I don't know what else to do.

              I should not have to go to a third party software (and pay) for these codes. Adobe QR codes have always worked without any issue?!

              PLEASE HELP

              T
              Test Screen Name
              Legend
              September 12, 2018

              Reduce the amount of data. If it starts working you were borderline.

              S
              SpazerooAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              September 12, 2018

              Specifically which data? The physical address?

              That was the only information that I amended on the codes from when they were working to now.

              Also, why would the first code on the first business card work and not the rest? See the previous images in my initial message.

              T
              Test Screen Name
              Legend
              September 10, 2018

              Sorry forgot the link! That doesn't work either.

              Point for setting the module size | QRcode.com | DENSO WAVE

              also https://blog.qrstuff.com/2011/01/18/what-size-should-a-qr-code-be

              T
              Test Screen Name
              Legend
              September 10, 2018

              Here is some info on QR codes, print resolution and scanner resolution. It's pretty complex but different scan and print methods are going to break down at different points. This is why commonly QR codes just contain a URL generated by a link shortener rather than anyone's life story.

              L
              Community Expert
              LaubenderCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              September 10, 2018

              Hi Sarah,

              do you test code reading from printed samples with an office printer?

              Regards,
              Uwe

              jane-e
              Community Expert
              jane-eCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              September 10, 2018

              The first works for me on my iPad, not the next three. Colin, why do they work for you and not me!?!

              Anyway, scshorten, select the QR code in InDesign > right-click > Edit QR Code.

              Show us a screen shot if you don't see the problem. Or try creating a new one from scratch and see if that works.

              JonathanArias
              JonathanArias
              Legend
              September 10, 2018

              what about making it larger in the layout?. i know, from experience, that if there is a lot going on in the QR code graphics and the code is small in the layout, it will not read it.

              S
              SpazerooAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              September 12, 2018

              Hi Jonathan

              These codes are 2.5 X 2.5 cm on the business cards. This size worked perfectly before and should still work now? This seems to be a technical error not a sizing problem.

              I am still unable to get these codes to work

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